Device for producing relative movements between a liquid and articles immersed in the same



March 25, 1958 o. RAUDSZUS 2,828,114

DEVICE FOR PRODUCING RELATIVE MOVEMENTS BETWEEN A LIQUID AND ARTICLESIMMERSED IN THE SAME Filed Sept. 20, 1951 4 f *1 INVENTOR.

L 36 OSWALD RAUDSZUS as E ATTORNEY United States DEVICE FOR PRODUCINGRELATIVE MOVE- MENTS BETWEEN A LIQUID AND ARTICLES IMMERSED IN THE SAMEThe present invention. relates to: a. device for producing relativemovements between a liquid. and articles immersed in the same. More:particularly, the invention relates to devices in which a. swingabl'ebody is submerged in the liquid and oscillated therein by suitableexciting means, preferably with frequencies within the sonic orsupersonic range.

Devices of the general type, above referred to, are employed forinstance for washing of articles such as china'ware' and silverware, forwashing of laundry, for washing or dyeing of fibers and. textilefabrics, for the extraction and solution of substances, in connectionwith electrolytic processes, etc.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel andimproved device of the general type, above referred to, which is simple,sturdy, and compact in design and which can be inexpensivelymanufactured.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improveddevice which can be directly placed upon the bottom of a vesselcontaining the liquid or be detachably secured to said vessel.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improveddevice by which powerful and efiective relative movements between theliquid and the articles to be treated are obtained.

Another object of the invention is to provide means which coact with anoscillating body so as to improve the efiect of the movements of thesame upon the articles to be treated.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for increasing therelative movements between the liquid and the articles, therebyincreasing the effect of said relative movements upon the articles to betreated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device in which thearticles to be treated are-subjected to the combined effect of themovements of the body relative to the liquid and of gas bubbles formedwithin the liquid. It has been found that such'combined elfect greatlyimproves'the result obtainable with a device according to the invention,as will be more fully explained hereinafter. 7

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the invention willbe pointed out hereinafter and set forth in the appended claims formingpart of the application.

in the accompanying drawing the single figure shows a'now preferredembodiment of the invention, partly in section and partly in side view,by way of illustration and not by way of limitation. a

The exemplified device according to the invention is shown as comprisinga lower portionwhich includes the body to be oscillated and an upperportion which includes the means for imparting oscillations to the saidbody and feeding a gaseous medium to the device. The device should bevisualized as being inserted during operation in a container containingliquid and articles to be treatedso that the oscillating body issubmerged in the liquid while the exciting means are above the highestpossible level of the liquid.

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Referring now more in detail to the drawing, the oscillating body isshown as a substantially rigid or stiff hollow closed body 1 which ispreferably lentil-shaped and may be made of sheetmeta-l. Body 1 issecured to one end of a tube 2. The other end of the tube is attached tothe armature 3 of an electromagnet. This magnet comprises an iron. coreand an exciting coil 4. Armature 3 is arranged in a conventionalmanner;'it is capable of oscillating in response to an energization ofthe coil with a suitable current. The electromagnet ispreferablyenergized with alternating current of 50 cycles per second. The coil isconnected to a source of current by means of a cable 5, the innerconnections of the electromagnet being conventional. v

The electromagnet is disposed within a housing 6 made ofmetal or anyother suitable material, the cable 5 being extended through the sidewall of the housing. The electromagnet can be mounted within the housingby any suitable means. There is shown a sleeve 16 which guides themagnet core 15 and is held in position by a ring 17 and one or morebolts 18'. The latter also serves to secure a cover 1 9 to the housing.The device further comprises one or more diaphragms, two diaphragms 7and 8 in form of metal discs being shown. Tube 2 is passed through thecenter portion of the diaphragms and secured thereto by any suitablemeans. The peripheral margins of the diaphragms are attached to housing6 directly or by means of a sleeve 20. As will be noted, this sleeve isheld between sleeve 16 and a shoulder 21 of housing 6. The diaphragmsserve to guide tube 2 and to close the housing space within which theelectromagnet is located. As will be obvious, the diaphragms willparticipate in oscillations imparted to the tube 2 and also amplifyingthe same to a certain extent.

The device can be placed upon the bottom of the liquid containingreceptacle (not shown), by providing a tube 9 extending from housing 6coaxially with tube 2. The lower end of tube 9 supports or is integralwith a frame structure 10. This frame structure surrounds body 1 in abasket like manner and is provided with feet 36 made for instance ofrubber.

For the purpose of introducing into the liquid in the receptacle acontinuous supply of bubbles of a gaseous medium, such as air, asubstantially rigid intermediate wall 25 is disposed within housing 6between the bottom thereof and diaphragm 8. Wall 25 is formed with oneor more transverse apertures 26 therethrough and secured with its outerrim to the wall of housing 6. A flexible disc 27 made for instance ofrubber is secured to wall 25 by any suitable means such as rivets 28.One end of disc 27 abuts tightly against the outer wall of tube 2 andthe other end overlaps the apertures 26 so as to form a valve with wall25. Air is admitted into housing 6 through inlet openings 29, preferablydisposed adjacent to apertures 26. The interior of the housingcommunicates with tube 2 through one or more outlet openings 30. Thelower end of the tube is open at 31.

As is previously explained, diaphragm his caused to oscillate inresponse to an energization of the electromagnet. As a result, anoscillatory movement in the upward direction (as seen in the drawing)will suck air into the space above wall 25 and disc 27 and the oppositeoscillating movement of the diaphragm will force the air throughopenings 30 into tube 2 from which it will be discharged into the liquidthrough the outlet 31.

It is advantageous to dispose wall 25 and wall disc 27 as closely aspossible to diaphragm 8 to attain the necessary air pressure in spite ofthe short stroke of the diaphragm.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, a pressure or pump meansfor the introduction of the gaseous medium into the liquid are combinedwith the means for oscillating body 1. However, it is also possible toprovide separate pump means. It is also possible to employ a bottlecontaining a medium under pressure and to feed the same into the liquidby means of a hose.

While air has been mentioned as the gaseous medium to be used, othergaseous media can also be employed. For instance inert gases may beadvantageously used when the device is employed for extracting, solvingand dyeing purposes.

It is further possible and in some instances preferable to release thebubbles within the liquid proper rather than to form the same byintroducing a gaseous medium into the liquid. This is accomplished byadding substances capable of generating gas to the liquid. Varioussubstances of this type are well known in the art. They may either beadded separately or combined with washing or cleansing agents. The gasgenerating substances may be of a type which release gas by the effectof the oscillations set up within the liquid or by increases intemperature or by reaction with other substances added to the liquid.

Among the substances which are suitable for the purpose are mixtures ofan alkali metal carbonate, such as powdered sodium bicarbonate, andtartaric acid or sodium carbonate or potassium carbonate and tartaricacid. In case the impurities themselves contain weak acids, as forinstance, lactic acid, the bicarbonate or carbonate of sodium orpotassium alone is sufficient.

The device is further provided with clamping means for removablyattaching the same to an edge of a wall, particularly the upper edge ofthe receptacle containing the liquid. These clamping means are shown ascomprising two jaws 12 and 13, jaw 13 being springy. As will be obvious,the upper marginal portion of the receptacle can be fitted between thetwo jaws, and the device is then secured by tightening a screw 11.

The provision of the feet and the clamping means permit either to placethe device upon the bottom of the receptacle or to clamp the same to theWall of the receptacle. It is, of course, also possible to rest thedevice upon the bottom and also to clamp it to the wall thereof. Theclamping of the device to the wall also serves to transmit oscillationsor vibrations directly to the receptacle which has the advantage ofincreasing the effect of the oscillations of the system upon thearticles to be treated.

Finally, the device is provided with a handle 14 extending from housing6. This handle serves to facilitate the manipulation of the device.

In case it is desired to heat the liquid, suitable electric heatingmeans can be mounted on a portion of the device which is submerged inthe liquid during operation; for instance, one or more heater coils canbe secured to frame structure 1d. The heater coils are designated by 22.

It will be apparent from the previous description that an excitation ofcoil 4- with alternating current of for instance fifty periods willcause armature 3' to oscillate, and that such oscillations will betransmitted to body 1 through tube 2. These oscillations will be withinthe audible or sonic frequency range. As a result, the liquid, articlessubmerged in the liquid, and the receptacle containing the liquid, willbe caused to oscillate. The oscillations, thus set up, will haveentirely different phase positions. These different phase positionseffect large gradients of pressure and movement even if the differencesin density and elasticity between the liquid and the articles to betreated are only slight. Consequently, the desired relative movementsbetween the liquid and the articles are generated. I As previouslymentioned, the relative movements are increased by coupling the entireoscillating system with'the receptacle by the clamping means and also bythe presence of the diaphragms.

Extensive tests have conclusivelyshown that by applying mechanicaloscillations in the presence of gas bubbles, the treatment effect uponthe articles is'very appreciably increased. The theory of this increaseis not yet entirely clear but it seems that the addition of gases causesan over-saturation of the liquid with gases at each operationaltemperature. As a result, very minute bubbles appear to formcontinuously, particularly on the surfaces of the articles, due to theinfluence of the oscillatory field. These minute gas bubbles, by reasonof their compressibility, make possible stronger relative movementsbetween the vibrated liquid and the articles immersed in the same. Anincreased relative movement means, of course, an improved treatmenteffect.

While it is generally preferable and more convenient to operate thedevice with alternating current, the device can also be operated bymeans of a D.-C. source. In this case suitable means capable ofproducing an intermittent direct current must be provided. Circuit meansof this type are well known in the art and may be of the buzzer type.They are preferably structurally combined with the device, and theelectromagnet of the device may be employed to energize the means forproducing the intermittent direct current. The circuit means aregenerally designated by 23.

Inasmuch as the device is designed to be used in the presence ofmoisture and comparatively well conducting liquids-the washing liquidmay contain for instance chlorine or other chemicals increasing theconductivity of the liquid-the electrical components of the device mustbe suitably protected. As a protection against dangerously highvoltages, the body of the device is preferably grounded by means of athree-wire cable and equipped with a safety plug. In case the availablegrounding is poor and in order to further increase the safety of thedevice, the housing and more specifically the current carryingcomponents therein are preferably sealed against water and steam.Furthermore, the current carrying components such as the coil and theelectric conductors should be strongly insulated. If the device is usedfor washing purposes, the coil is preferably so designed that it isprotected against water, soapsuds, and heat, and the solderingconnections between the coil and the conductors are preferably imbeddedin water, soapsuds, and heat resistant insulation material.

While the invention has been described in detail with 4 respect to acertain now preferred example and embodiment of the invention it will beunderstood by those skilled in the art after understanding theinvention, that various changes and modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it isintended, therefore, to cover all such changes and modifications in theappended claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A device for treating articles placed in a vessel containing aliquid, an oscillating system comprising a housing, electromagneticmeans mounted within the housing and including an armature performinglinearly reciprocatory oscillations at a frequency within the sonicrange upon an excitation of the electromagnetic means, a tubeoperatively connected on one end with said armature for oscillating inunison therewith, a substantially rigid body secured to the other end ofthe tube, the resulting reciprocatory oscillations of said bodyeffecting corresponding relative movements of liquid in said vessel andarticles placed in the liquid, the said other end of the tube beingformed with an outlet opening, and pump means supported by said housing,the intake side of said pump means communicating with a supply of agaseous medium and the outlet side with said tube, and actuating meansincluded in said pump means and actuated in response to oscillations ofsaid armature for pumping the gaseous medium into said tube therebyforming a multitude of gas bubbles therein.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said actuat- 5 a 6 ing meanscomprising valve means arranged to be opened References Cited in thefile of this patent and closed for the admission of the gaseous mediumin UNITED STATES PATENTS response to the oscillations of said armature.

3. A device as defined in claim 2, wherein said oscillat- 1101560McKmlay June 1914 ing system comprises diaphragm means coupled with the5 2118480 Somes May 1938 armature for oscillation in unison therewith,and wherein 2193934 Mfmres 1940 said housing includes a pump chamberhaving wall por- 2527666 Wmter 1950 tions defined by said diaphragmmeans and by said valve 3 3165 5 Thompson 1950 means, said pump chambercommunicating with said Wilcox 1951 tube, and wherein said valve meansinclude a one-way 10 2591990 Wlsdom 1952 valve member adapted to beopened and closed by oscil- 2616820 Bourgeaux 1952 latory movements ofsaid diaphragm means for sucking FOREIGN PATENTS the gaseous medium intothe pump chamber and ex- 548 960 Great Britain Oct 30 1942 pelling ittherefrom in response to opposite oscillatory movements of the diaphragmmeans. 15

4. A device as defined in claim 3, wherein said valve means include aflexible valve disc tightly connected to said tube and disposed closelyadjacent to said diaphragm.

